Rookie Cut Sparks Debate Over NCAA Five-Year Eligibility Rule

The Cleveland Browns have waived rookie tight end Dae'Quan Wright. After clearing waivers, Wright announced his intention to enroll at Louisiana State University (LSU) and rejoin former Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, who recently accepted the LSU head-coaching position. Wright, a second-team All-SEC selection last season, moves from an NFL practice-squad salary of roughly $13,750 per week back to the college game, where he could potentially earn a seven-figure compensation package under current name-image-likeness (NIL) arrangements.

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The episode highlights the NCAA’s “five-for-five” eligibility framework, which grants athletes five seasons of competition within a five-year window. Implemented this summer, the rule was not grandfathered for the high-school class of 2022, prompting legal challenges. Attorney Tom Mars, who specializes in NCAA litigation, argues the NCAA’s rollout lacked a defensible rationale, leaving it vulnerable to lawsuits. The rule was intended to curb the practice of extending collegiate careers through medical or personal waivers, a trend that has produced rosters populated by older players.

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• Five seasons of competition are permitted over a five-year period.

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• Wright’s NFL practice-squad earnings are about $13,750 per week.

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• NIL contracts at major programs can reach seven-figure totals.

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• The NCAA has faced litigation from judges in Mississippi to the United States Supreme Court.

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Arkansas basketball coach John Calipari has also mocked the rule’s effect, noting the presence of “older gentlemen with beards” on college teams, implying that extended eligibility inflates roster ages beyond the traditional student-athlete model.

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• “You'd think somebody in the NCAA would have pointed out 'We better come up with a darn-good reason for doing this, or somebody is going to sue us,'" Mars said.” — Tom Mars, said attorney

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